The African region's "father of evidence-based healthcare" is what the South African Medical Research Council (MRC) called Prof Jimmy Volmink, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University, when they recently presented him with a Recognition Award for "Outstanding Achievements in Contributions to Evidence-based Healthcare in Africa".

"Volmink is an internationally renowned researcher, leader, mentor, critic and teacher in clinical epidemiology and evidence-based healthcare," the MRC said in their commendation statement. Volmink is the founding Director of the first Cochrane Centre on the African continent. (Cochrane is a group that collects and summarises the best health evidence from research to help health professionals to make informed choices about treatment.)

"Volmink was never afraid to challenge the accepted norms and doctrines. For example, his systematic reviews of the evidence regarding Directly Observed Therapy for Tuberculosis and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV directly contradicted South Africa health policy at the time, and highlighted the complexity of policymaking in spite of available best evidence," the statement continued.

"His work was underscored by the mission of Cochrane South Africa which stated that health care decision-making on the African continent should be informed by best-available evidence. He has supported many researchers to conduct high-quality research and assisted policymakers in South Africa and the region to build the necessary skills to use research evidence effectively."

Photo: Stefan Els